NCAA investigation nearing end at Miami

CORAL GABLES — After 22 months, the charges in the University of Miami’s NCAA investigation could come any day now.

Former UM staffers accused of specific violations were told by the NCAA to prepare for meetings with investigators early next week, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Sun Sentinel.

Only those still employed within the collegiate athletics realm would be required to meet with the governing body since their employment status could be impacted by the findings.

It is believed to be one of the final steps before investigators deliver the long-anticipated notice of allegations to the university following a review of claims that former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro committed a slew of NCAA infractions by giving impermissible benefits to athletes.

From there, Miami would have two options within the 90-day window it has to respond to the report. It can accept the allegations and move on to the penalty phase. The more likely route will involve a hearing in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis.

In that scenario, the NCAA enforcement staff will act as a prosecutor in what amounts to a trial with UM and legal counsel challenging the findings. The Committee on Infractions typically takes six to eight weeks to render a decision.

From there, it’s on to the penalty phase. Miami would have the option to appeal the sanctions. Any decisions rendered by the Infractions Appeal Committee cannot be further challenged.

The first sign of trouble surfaced in August 2011. A comprehensive account of Shapiro’s allegations was published by Yahoo Sports in the opening weeks of Al Golden’s first preseason camp.

As it turned out, the NCAA’s investigation into the matter began months earlier. It became one of the longest-running probes in history that all began with a disgruntled former booster.

Shapiro, a convicted Ponzi schemer serving a 20-year sentence, was the star witness. He claims to have provided illegal benefits to more than 100 potential recruits from 2002 to 2010 with the help of several now-former Miami coaches.

A total of eight football players, including six starters, were suspended for one to six games in the 2011 season. Rising junior Dyron Dye, suspended four games, is the only player still with the program as a backup tight end.

The Hurricane basketball program was also impacted, with the effects being felt as recently as November. Star DeQuan Jones was originally suspended for the 2011-12 season before being reinstated after 10 games. Current guard Durand Scott was also suspended a total of six game.

Miami also withheld itself from postseason football games following the 2011 and 2012 seasons in anticipation of strong sanctions.

Golden, who can’t discuss specifics of the case, briefly touched on the topic in a Friday interview on WQAM radio. He said he was proud of the university’s handling of the exhaustive investigation.

“The reality of it, I think we’ve been a beacon here in terms of how you should operate when something occurs,” Golden told the Joe Rose Show. “Hopefully, we’ll be the model of how you self-impose and how you make restitution and move a program forward.”